I think we're probably using the word "bots" to include "human-based mass creation and use of twitter accounts". Like if I make 100 twitter accounts to promote <thing>, they count as "bots" here, even if I did it all by hand. If we're not, we should be.

Given that, I'm not sure there is much "bot augmentation" on otherwise human twitter accounts. It would be strange to do that if you were only using one account.

If this is true, where’s the proof of a conspiracy? This is similar to the thing about phones listening to conversations and then some app shows a relevant ad: where’s the conspiracy?

What you outline above implies something like an affiliate/recruiting program to find accounts to “co-house” your bot within. Especially with the implication that they operate on behalf of USian political parties.